Beckley is a small town in West Virginia, of some 17,700 people.Before this town was formally established, it had a role in theCivil War. Very possibly a deaf family was involved with theCivil War because they all had to protect their homes. Oneof the deaf family’s descendants was Edna Truax, 76. She isnot deaf but there is deafness in her family bloodline. Shesaid that deaf people in the town did not talk too much aboutthe town history. What they didn’t say has frustratedBeckley’s historians!

— deaf baby stolen, true or false

It was a big story few weeks ago when Zella Jackson Price,not deaf, claimed that her deaf baby was stolen immediatelyfrom a St Louis hospital immediately she was born. Upsetcounty officials researched and said this story is false.The mother, with her attorney, insists that the storyis true – claiming it was the county officials thatchanged the birth records to make it look correct.Who is telling the truth?

Few days ago DeafDigest mentioned that Ed Bosson, who championedthe concept of the video relay service, lost his home inthe Texas floods. His friends rallied to his cause, givingmoney so he and his family could rebuild their lives. DeafActivists have complained that people donate money toBosson because he is white, whereas a deaf woman, SabrinaBlount, who is black, survived a horrific crime but moneydonations to her cause was meager. The twist – Bosson hasappealed for his friends to donate money to her, not to him!

Elena Ciccarelli, a recent graduate of Gallaudet University playedthree sports for four seasons (soccer, basketball and softball).She is the only Gallaudet athlete with this such 3-sport, 4-seasonfeat. She is being featured in this week’s Sports IllustratedFaces in the Crowd.

— District of Columbia Cartoon/Animation headquarters at Gallaudet

Pigmental Studios, which develops cartoons and animation for film,television, gaming, commercials and the web, will be setting upits headquarters on the Gallaudet campus! It was made possible byagreement with DC government, Pigmental officials and Gallaudet.This studio is expected to employ 20 to 40 local people, hopefullysome of them deaf. Gallaudet was selected over several other citiesthat wanted the studio! Where on the Gallaudet campus – same cornerspot where Stevens Chevrolet dealership was located (and whichhad a deaf auto salesman!)

Lal Daggy is a new rapper who is deaf. A story today saidhe is quickly rising in the music industry. His performanceis unusual in that he does not use his voice. Instead heuses face, hands, arms and body while synching with thebackground music. The audience fell in love with hisperformances. Not much is known of him, though, exceptthat he is 24 years old.

— deaf drivers with Uber

Uber has deaf drivers. This company has developeda new app to help deaf drivers navigate the roads,pick up and drop off passengers. It was the deafdrivers that told Uber what they wanted in the newapp – and Uber listened to them. But is therean irony – Uber has been accused of discriminatingagainst disabled passengers. There are severallaw suits for that reason!

There is a blog that DeafDigest editor found out today –TheDisabledFoodie.com – it covers restaurants inNew York City that is disabled-friendly or disabled-unfriendly? Deaf? This blog addresses the needs ofhard of hearing, but makes no mention of the deaf!Contact was made with the blog editor. His responsewas this –

My goal is to learn more about other disabilitiesso I can include those things in my reviews.

— a deaf leader loses his home in the terrible Texas flood

Ed Bosson, the nation’s #1 advocate of Video RelayService, lost his home in the Blanco River flood inTexas. The family was rescued by the firemen, butthe house was lost. Friends are now trying to raisefunds to replace the lost house.

— waking up to the smell of coffee

many of us wake up to the smell of the coffee,coming from the kitchen. Is this the “alarm clock”that we use? Well, a French company is makingalarm clocks that will wake up the deaf to thesmell of – not just coffee, but espresso, hotcroissant, sweet peach, strawberry candy, gingerand pepper mint. Your choice – or the goodold fashioned bed vibrator or bed flasher!